Basque man faces fresh extradition appeal
Spanish authorities are to appeal a decision not to extradite a Basque man living in Belfast to face terrorism charges.
A panel of High Court judges will convene next month for the challenge to the ruling made in the case of Arturo Villanueva Arteaga.
The 33-year-old was being sought over claims he belonged to a youth group allegedly linked to the ETA organisation.
Earlier this month the Recorder for Belfast threw out attempts to have him extradited because a European Arrest Warrant was held to be invalid.
Judge Tom Burgess based his decision on a lack of specific details about attendance at meetings, interviews or other evidence that Arteaga was a member of the Jarrai group.
Although the warrant claimed the wanted man carried out violent and coercive actions from 1994 to 2000, Judge Burgess ruled there was no reference to dates, locations or targets of any alleged attacks which would allow anyone to link them to him.
He said at the time: “It is the question of particularity as to his membership of that group which is missing.”
Villanueva, who is released on continuing bail, has been living in Northern Ireland for six years and helps run a tourism business.
However, lawyers for the Spanish authorities have now confirmed their intention to mount an appeal before the Divisional Court.
Villanueva’s legal team opposed the extradition attempts by arguing the warrant was defective and did not contain information required by the Extradition Act 2003.
Following Judge Burgess’s decision Villanueva claimed it showed up flaws in how Spain deals with this type of case.
He also stressed that he has worked politically, peacefully and publicly in defence of Basque youth and Basque national rights.
